in 2009, president barack obama nominated and the u.s. senate confirmed sonya sotomayor as the 111th justice at the u.s. supreme court. [applause] [cheers and applause] [applause] after i got to washington in 2009, i met a whole bunch of texans -- [laughter] from everywhere in the large state, and i've been repeatedly invited to visit. you know, when you get a new job, you're a little busy, so i had not been able to come, but it's the tribute to the warmth of the people i met then that have been concerned in the few hours that i've been here already, that this is the third city on my tour. i was first in washington, my new home. i went back to the home of my heart, new york, over the weekend, and as you saw on television, i was back and forth a lot between the two. [laughter] this is my first trip outside. i'm delighted that this is my first trip to texas, and that i'm here in houston. thank you. [applause] i wanted to visit more than one city, and i am going to os p, but i can't visit every place i want to. i still have a day job, and i